10 fake Obamacare websites taken down by California

In Sacramento, California – 10 fake Obamacare websites have been shut down.


All the websites mimicked the “Covered California” affordable health insurance website to obtain personal information for identity theft.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris, has removed all fraudulent sites connected to the roll-out, after a month-long investigation.

“These websites fraudulently imitated Covered California in order to lure consumers away from plans that provide the benefits of the Affordable Care Act,” Harris said in a statement.  “My office will continue to investigate and shut down these kinds of sites.”

The following are shut down sites web addresses:

www.californiabenefitexchange.com
www.californiahealthbenefitexchange.com
www.coveredcalifornia.com
www.shopinsuranceexchange.us
www.shopinsuranceservices.com
www.healthexchangeinsurance.com
www.shopforhealthcare.org
www.taxcreditinsurance.com
www.smallbusinesshealthoptionsprogram.com
www.stateexchanges.org

These sites are now blank pages of emptiness in the World Wide Web.

Health insurance plans sold outside the official exchange on the individual market before January 1, 2014 will not qualify for federal subsidies and do not have the guarantees provided by the ACA’s consumer protection provisions.




In September, the Better Business Bureaus nationwide warned about phony telemarketers calling pretending to offer information about the Affordable Care Act.

All the websites used names meant to provoke the state’s insurance exchange, duping consumers.

If consumers searched Google to find the Covered California site, they were presented with fake sites instead with the exchange’s logo displayed.

Users could purchase policies approved under the new law and qualify for a federal subsidy, then were taken to another private website of insurance companies and brokers.

Consumers are warned to sign up on the state’s site https://www.coveredca.com/.

Be wary of outside offers and policies from the exchange because you do not know if they can be trusted.

To avoid scams related to California’s health insurance marketplace, Attorney General Harris has released the following tips for consumers:

• California’s only official health insurance marketplace is www.coveredca.com, which is where individuals, families and small businesses can get information, compare plans and enroll.
• Be wary if you receive a call from a representative claiming to be a government official asking for your personal information like Social Security number or Medicare card number. You should not provide personal or financial information over the phone and should instead contact Covered California directly.
• If you are approached by someone offering assistance from Covered California, verify that they are a Certified Enrollment Counselor by asking to see their required ID badge or by contacting Covered California directly.
• Never pay someone for assistance with healthcare enrollment. Free enrollment assistance is available by contacting Covered California directly.

If you believe that you have been the victim of a scam, please report it by contacting Covered California directly or by filing a consumer complaint with the California Attorney General’s office at: http://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company

To contact Covered California directly, call (800) 300-1506 or email consumerprotection@covered.ca.gov

References:

California takes down 10 fake Obamacare websites – NBC News
http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/california-takes-down-10-fake-obamacare-websites-2D11591128
November 15, 2013

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Shuts Down Imitation ‘Covered California’ Websites, Provides Tips for Consumers – State of California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General
https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-shuts-down-imitation-%E2%80%98covered-california%E2%80%99

Obamacare Scams…

http://www.hyphenet.com/blog/obamacare-scams/

Image Credit: Time Magazine

We have heard about Obamacare taking effect soon.  A lot of people aren’t too sure of how it will work or what exactly it is, but now signs of scammers are coming about.  There is a huge debate over who will benefit from the Affordable Care Act and how to get it.  The gray area of this health care act is vast, which means there is a huge market for scammers and con artists.
Scammers have been at it for more than a year now, and with October 1st right around the corner, this problem will become even greater.    They have been calling, faxing, and emailing people, claiming to be part of the ‘Obamacare’ help staff.  October 1, 2013 is when the act will give millions of uninsured Americans the use of health insurance.  But everyone should know that not until October 1, can insurance be set up.
Scam artists are quick to jump into the national health care reform.  These con artists are asking for your bank account number, social security number, and other personal information in order to “verify” your identity.  This kind of scam is confusing and hard to spot, especially when it comes to senior citizens.  They are not as informed and aware of these types of scams.  All they know is Obamacare is coming and they are eligible.

Don’t Be Fooled

Thousands of people are being trained to become professional scam artists. They are learning how to professionally take you through the process for ‘applying’ for coverage to this new program. Your trust is gained from them explaining the coverage in detail and how it will affect you. Please know that you can not sign up for the Obamacare right now. You can learn more at HealthCare.gov. Also here is the phone number to contact Customer Service, 1-800-318-2596.
Here are some tips to help you spot fraud:

• There is no card of any sort associated with the health care reform.
• A Medicare card is not going to be updated nor given so don’t give personal information out.
• The Health Insurance Marketplace does not open until October 1, 2013, nothing can be bought into until then.
• Do not respond to a cold call asking for money or personal information.  Even if the Caller ID says it’s from a government office.
• The enrollment period is from Oct.1 to March 31, anyone promising you a “special price for a limited time” is lying to you.

Please be aware of these Obamacare scam, this is meant to help people, but with kindness resides evil.  These people are waiting around the corner for you to fall into their trap.
References:
Obamacare is coming, and so are the scammers – Today
http://www.today.com/money/obamacare-coming-so-are-scammers-6C10913891
aug.15, 2013